Ebm-papst UK Case Study

11 Jun 2013

Ebm-papst UK was set up in Chelmsford in 2004, both as a distribution hub and installation service for fans for the UK market. This modern facility now has a workforce of around 80, in addition to external sales teams.

Even in less than ideal market conditions, ebm-papst UK has continued to thrive both globally and in the UK.

Ray Ladyman, Operations Director at the ebm-papst UK Chelmsford facility, attributes this success to two factors: the technological competitive edge afforded by the company’s product range; and the importance ebm-papst UK places on developing a close collaborative relationship with its clients.

Based on its environmentally conceived Green Tech philosophy, ebm-papst has been a pioneer, since 1995, in the research and development of EC fans. This leading-edge technology offers customers a range of benefits including reduced energy consumption, noise reduction, remote monitoring and intelligent electronic control. ebm-papst further maintains its leading position in its field by often exceeding European directives and regulations. For example, a current EU directive concerns energy efficiency requirements; Ray Ladyman explains:

“The first level was introduced on Jan 1st 2013 and the next is due to be implemented on 1st Jan 2015. We (at ebm-papst UK) are able to offer products that meet, and indeed, exceed the 2015 directive since 2011/12. This clearly has been a strength of our products over some of our competitors but as the EC product development (energy efficiency) has been a main driver of the business since early 2000’s, we were always going to be well positioned when these directives were enforced.”

The commercial success of ebm-papst UK‘s EC fans and the challenge presented by their installation has led to the need for a design and manufacture capability for fan housings, usually made from galvanised sheet metal. This sheet metalwork is being done in-house in Chelmsford using the latest punch press and press brake technology. The ebm-papst UK sheet metal working unit boasts the latest punching and bending technology: punching is done on a Trumpf 1000R and bending on a Trubend 3066.

Ebm-papst UK is used to working closely with its customers in a consultative capacity, so it is no surprise that Ray Ladyman looked to Wilson Tool as its partner in developing the sheet metalworking facility. The local Wilson Tool sales engineer , Graham Joiner, was able to bring his many years of sheet metal working experience to bear by giving practical guidance and real world advice. As Ray pointed out, the Wilson Tool approach, honed by years of experience, closely mirrors the ebm-papst UK model, where technical salesmen / consultants are involved from the early, planning stages of a project through to its final implementation.

Ray Ladyman and some of his colleagues involved in the sheet metal working operation at ebm-papst UK, have visited Wilson Tool’s manufacturing and design facilities in Swindon on more than one occasion and this too has proved mutually beneficial as ideas and experiences were exchanged. Indeed the logical, Lean Manufacturing inspired lay-out of the Wilson Tool manufacturing centre is also evident in the arrangement of ebm-papst UK sheet metal workshop.